Plan file



March 17, 1942. B. ULRICH 2,276,707

PLAN FILE Filed Jan. 22, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l f i j?? 9 A j I INVENTOR. CHHELEs ULB/CH.

MQW

ATTORNEY.

March 17, 1942. c. B. ULRICH .2,276,707

PLAN FILE Filed Jan.l 22, 1940 5 sheets-sheet 2 UX l@ e: JZQ, ::--A il BY ATTORNEY.

March 17, .1942. c. B. ULRICH 2,276,707l

PLAN FILE Filed Jan. 22, 1940 s sheets-sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

I, INVENTOR. CHARM-55. ULB/CH.

Patented Mar. 17, 1942 on c 10 Claims.

My inventionpertains to vertical planles of the type intended to file and hold large plans, drawings, and other papers, as well as smaller papers of various kinds, in vertical arrangement in suspended and flexible pockets, suitable compression means being provided between the pockets to compress the contents thereof to hold said contents in vertical and compact condition in each pocket.

This invention provides an improved construction of such planiiles, by which in addition to the pockets being movable toward and from each other as heretofore, devices are provided in connection with the supporting rails of the plan'lle pockets, for grouping the pockets with a desired number of pockets in each group, which prevents undue expansion of certain of the pockets in a manner to prevent the eifective use of others of the groups of pockets, and which provides that each of the pockets ris immediately and effectively available to receive or deliver filed contents regardless of the condition of others of said pockets. The invention further provides an arrangement of supports for the cross-bars of the pockets coacting with compression mechanism between the pockets by which the sides of the pockets move nearly or quite into vertical positions by the weight in the pockets, which is the desired compression position of said pocket sides.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodimentthereof in which- Fig. l is a vertical, sectional view from front to 'rear through the planle, taken along the line I-l in Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view of a part of the structure taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view of a part of the structure to an enlarged scale taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l but to an enlarged scale, of a part of the lower ends of several adjacent pockets,

Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional View of a part of the structure taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a vertical, sectional view of a part of the structure taken along the line @-5 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a horizontal, sectional view to an enlarged scale of a part of the structure taken along the line lin Figs. l and '3.

Fig. 8 shows in a view similar to Fig. 4 a modified construction of spacing devices for the bottoms of the pockets,

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the parts shown in Fig. V8, and

Fig. lil-shows in a view similar to Fig. i but to an enlarged scale a portion of the upper portions of adjacent vpockets after loading one of the pockets. n

Similar numerals refer to similar parts as shown in the several views.

As shown in Fig. 1, the planfile consists of a casing ifi having a cover H and containing substantially parallel, horizontal pocket-supporting cross-bars i2 connected with and supporting the side walls 43 of the pockets, which side walls are preferably spaced strips of thin sheet metal connected at bottom members I4 of the pockets, which are preferably of suitable fabric. Resilient compression devices such as helico-spiral springs l5 are connected with and between the side walls of adjacent pockets to press the side walls of eachV pocket lifting above the bottoms of the other.

pockets, and the spacing links insure ample clearance space for the lower portion of each pocket between adjacent plates It, so that each pocket is free to receive and discharge its contents.

The casing It is provided with inner and outerv walls vof sheet metal and the supporting struc\ ture of the planiile as well as the sides of the pockets are preferably of sheet metal, and on account of the small scale necessary in Figs. 1 and 2, the thickness of said sheet metal is shown by a single line. v

As shown in Fig. 2 and more clearly in Fig. 3,

one end of each cross-bar i2 is provided with a vertical slot 42a open at its lower end to receive and yride on a supporting rail 22 supported in the space between the inner and 'outer walls of the side of the casing Hi, by angle members 22a formed from the channel member 22o forming a part of the side wall construction, and extending upwardly and having upwardly openingslots to receive and support the rail 22. Each cross-bar l2 has secured to it the upper ends of the corf responding pocket strips i3 tosupport the pock ets of the planiile.

bars I2 are of rectangular cross-section and the pocket strips I3 are secured to them in any contheir lower endsl with the flexible' As shown in Fig. 6, the cross-l venient manner, for example, by riveting as illustrated at I3a1.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the apertures in the plates I (i to receive the rod I 'I, are formed to also receive the ends of the spacing links I8 and I9, the links I8 being on one side and the links I9 on the other side of said rod. The links I8 and I9 are preferably made of suitable wire bent to the form shown. It will be understood that there are preferably several pairs of strips I3 to form the side walls of each pocket, depending upon the width of the planfile, and that each series of said strips I3 from front to rear of the planle is preferably provided with a retaining rod I'I and spacing links IE and I9 as described.

In the modified construction of lower spacing devices for the pockets, shown in Figs.l 8 and 9, the pocket strips I3a are similar to the pocket strips I3, excepting that one strip I3a of each pocket is continued downwardly below the adja-` cent flexible pocket bottom Ida., and isprovided at its lower end with tongues I3b extending through slots therefor in a spacing strip 24, the parts being held together by bending the tongues after they are passed through the strip 24. Each series of pocket strips I3a from front to rear of the planle, is preferably provided with a spacing strip 24 where this construction is employed, and the lower portion of each pocket is thus provided with ample clearance space regardless of the extent of loading of the other pockets. The pockets in other respects may be constructed and may operate in substantially the same manner as the pockets described in connection with Figs. l and 4.

As shown in Fig. 7, the angle members 22a are so spaced as to receive a desired number of the cross-bars I2 between adjacent ones of them, thus grouping the pockets as desired, and said angle members limit the expansion of the pockets of any group to the space alotted to the group by the spacing of said angle members. Stop members 22e are formed from the member 22h to engage the ends of the rail 22 to restrain it from longitudinal movement. Between the cross-bars I2, springs 26 are disposed around the rail 22 which preferably is a cylindrical rod, the strength of the springs being sufficient to move the cross-bars I2' to positions spaced substantially equally from each other when the pockets are not loaded, but not sufficient to interfere with other spacings due to unequally loaded pockets, or to interfere with placing material in any pocket or removing the same therefrom. The other side of the casing is provided with a similar rail supporting and cross-bar spacing construction to support the pockets and afford the operation described, the pocket grouping construction being the same at each end of the crossbars I2.

In the manner described, the invention provides a combined pocket-supporting and pocketgrouping construction contained in the sidewalls of the casing, so that no devices are required for the purpose inside of the upper portion of the casing, and the entire space in the casingis clear and unobstructed for use in connection with the filing pockets.

In Fig. 10 the action of the pocket supporting devices is illustrated. In placing a load 25 of papers or the like in one of the pockets, the cross-bars I2 supporting the pocket are pushed apart sufciently to provide easy access to the pocket, having the cross-bars apart a corresponding amount on their rails 22. The weight of the load 25 exerts a force vertically and downwardly on the pocket, which force may be represented by the arrow P. This force is divided between the pocket supporting strips I3 so that each strip supports its part of the load. On account of the separation of the cross-bars I2 referred to, the upper portions of the strips I3 of the loaded pocket are not vertical, because of the action of the upper compression springs I5, but are obliquely disposed and diverge upwardly. The portion of the vertical load 25 carried by each of the strips I3 supporting the load, therefore produces two component forces p and pI, each force p being in the direction of and sustained by the corresponding strip I3, and each force pI being exerted horizontally and in a direction tending to move the load supporting cross-bars towards each other. In practice, the cross bars I2 readily separate against the action of the springs 26, to afford easy access to any pocket, and they also automatically move to positions substantially over the pocket strips due to the action of the forces pI and to the action of the springs 26, when the operator releases the pocket supporting cross-bars, thus spacing the cross-bars substantially uniformly, depending of course on whether the pockets are uniformly loaded. l

In the manner described, I provide means within the side walls of the casing and associated with the pocket-supporting rails, for grouping the pockets in such a manner that each group is restricted .to its allotted space in the casing, without interfering with the operation of any pocket of any group, together with means tending to automatically effect uniform spacing of the pocket cross-bars when any opened pocket is released.

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiments described, I do not limit myself thereto but include equivalents thereof within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a planflle, the combination of a casing having opposite sides each provided with spaced inner and outer walls, a rail horizontally supported in the space between the upper portions of the walls of each of said sides, cross-bars horizontally supported by said rails for movement longitudinally of said rails, filing pockets suspended in said casing from said cross-bars, and a horizontally disposed casing member in each of said sides of the casing and having integral angle members supporting the corresponding rail, said cross-.bars being disposed in `each of said sides of the casing and having integral angle members supporting the corresponding rail, said cross-bars being disposed in groups between said angle members, the upper edges of said angle `members being slotted to form seats for said rails.

3. In a planle, the combination of a casing having opposite sidesv each provided with spaced inner and outer walls, a rail horizontally supported in the space between the upper portions of the walls of each of said sides, cross-bars horizontally supported by said rails for movement longitudinally of said rails, filing pockets suspended in said casing from said cross-bars, a horizontally disposed casing member in each of said sides of the casing and having integral angle members supporting the corresponding rail, said cross-bars being disposed in groups between said angle members, and springs be-v tween the end portions of said cross-bars and tending to space them from each other.

4. In a planiile, the combination of a casing having opposite sides each provided with spaced inner and outer walls, a rail horizontally supported in the space between the upper portions of the walls of each of said sides, cross-bars horizontally supported by said rails for movement longitudinally of said rails, ling pockets suspended in said casing from said cross-bars, a horizontally disposed casing member in each of said sides of the casing and having integral angle members supporting the corresponding rail, said cross-bars being disposed in groups between said angle members, the upper edges of said angle members being slotted to form seats for said rails, said rails being cylindrical rods, and springs 5. In a planfile, the combination of a casing having opposite sides each provided with spaced inner and outer walls, a rail horizontally supported in the space between the upper portions of the walls of each of said sides, cross-bars horizontally supported by said rails for movement longitudinally of said rails, ling pockets suspended in said casing from said cross-bars, and a horizontally disposed casing member in each of said sides of the casing and having integral angle members supporting the corresponding rail, said cross-bars being disposed in groups between said angle members, each of said casing members also having integral angle members for engaging the ends of the corresponding rail and restraining the same from longitudinal movement.

6. In a planle, the combination of a casing having opposite sides each provided with spaced inner and outer walls, a rail horizontally supported in the space between the upper portions of the walls of each of said sides, cross-bars horizontally supported by said rails for movement longitudinally of said rails, ling pockets suspended in said casing from said cross-bars, and a horizontally disposed casing member in each of said sides of the casing and having integral angle members supporting the corresponding rail, said cross-bars being disposed in groups between said angle members, said cross-bars being oi rectangular cross-section and having end slots opening through their lower edges for engagement with said rails.

'7. In a planle, the combination of a casing having opposite sides each provided with spaced inner and outer walls, a rail horizontally supported in the space between the upper portions of the walls of each of said sides, cross-bars horizontally supported by said rails for movement longitudinally of said rails, ling pockets suspended in said casing from said cross-bars, and a horizontally disposed casing member in each of said sides of the casing and having in- CII tegral angle members supporting the corresponding rail, said cross-bars being disposed in groups between said angle members, said cross-bars being of rectangular cross-section and having end slots opening through their lower edges for engagement wtih said rails, said casing having an inner vertical wall member extending over said cross-bars and restraining them from movement vertically from engagement with said rails.

8. In a planiile, the combination of a casing having opposite sides each provided with spaced inner and outer walls, a rail horizontally supported in the space between the upper portions of the walls of each of said sides, cross-bars horizontally supported by said railsA for movement longitudinally of said rails, filing pockets suspended in said casing from said cross-bars,

,and a horizontally disposed casing member in each of said sides of the casing and having integral angle members supporting the corresponding rail, said cross-bars being disposed in groups between said angle 'members there being one of said integral angle members between each two adjacent groups of said cross-bars for each of said rails.

9. In a planfile, the combination of a casing having opposite sides each provided with spaced inner and outer walls, a rail horizontally supported in the space between the upper portions of the walls of each of said sides, cross-bars horizontally supported by said rails for movement longitudinally of said rails, ling pockets suspended in said casing from said cross-bars, a horizontally disposed casing member in each of said sides of the casing and having integral angle members supporting the corresponding rail, said cross-bars being disposed in groups between said angle members, the upper. edges of said angle members being slotted to form seats for said rails, said rails being cylindrical rods, and springs around said rails and between said cross-bars and tending to space said cross-bars from each other, each of said casing members also having integral angle members for engaging the ends of the corresponding rail and restraining `the same v from longitudinal movement.

10. In a planle, the combination of a casing having opposite sides each provided with spaced inner and outer walls, a rail horizontally supported in the space between the upper portions of the walls of each of said sides, cross-bars horizontally supported by said rails for movement longitudinally lof said rails, filing pockets suspended in said casing from said cross-bars, a horizontally disposed casing member in each of said sides of the casing and having integral angle members supporting the corresponding rail, said cross-bars being disposed in groups between said angle'members, the upper edges of 'said angle members being slotted to form seats for said rails, said rails being cylindrical rods, and springs around said rails and between said cross-bars and tending to space said cross-bars from each other, each of said casing members also having integral angle members for engaging the ends of the corresponding rail and restraining the same from longitudinal movement, there being one of said integral angle members between each two adjacent groups of said cross-bars for each of said rails.

CHARLES B. ULRICH. 

